† 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟰 †

╭─━─━─━─━─━─╮𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟰†❝𝗔 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗙𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦❞╰─━─━─━─━─━─╯

༺ ☠︎ †  𝖁 𝖎 𝖘 𝖎 𝖔 𝖓  𝖎 𝖓  𝕯 𝖆 𝖗 𝖐  † ☠︎ ༻

Jungkook was already at college, going about his usual routine. It had been two days since his argument with Taehyung, and in that time, he had stopped bothering to reach out to him.

At first, it had been pure frustration....Taehyung hadn't even acknowledged him since their fight, and Jungkook absolutely hated the idea of looking desperate. He refused to be the one chasing after someone who clearly didn't even care enough to talk to his own friends.

If Taehyung wanted to act like some love-sick fool over that girl, then fine, let him. Jungkook wasn't going to waste his energy on it.

But even as he told himself that, he couldn't ignore how much Taehyung had distanced himself. It wasn't just from Jungkook—he hadn't spoken to any of their friends either.

At first, he had made weak excuses whenever someone asked why he was acting different, but it didn't take long for everyone to realize that he simply didn't bother with them anymore.

Jungkook couldn't wrap his head around it.

How had he changed so much in just a few weeks?

It made no sense.

And all because of her?

That was completely insane.

It only proved what Jungkook had been saying all along—that girl name Evie had to be manipulative. There was no other explanation. A woman couldn't just walk into someone's life and turn them into a completely different person unless she was doing it on purpose.

Jungkook clenched his jaw, irritated by the very thought of it.

Trying to push away his annoyance, he focused on his surroundings. It was lunchtime, and he was sitting in the cafeteria with his friends, surrounded by laughter and conversation.

Everyone was joking around, having a great time, and for the most part, Jungkook played along. They finished their meals, and someone suggested heading outside to roam around for a while before their next classes.

As they walked across campus, Jungkook found himself falling into an old habit—letting his eyes wander toward the girls around him. Watching them, flirting with them, and enjoying their attention had always been one of his favorite pastimes. It was an easy distraction, one that never failed to boost his mood.

But just as he was smirking at a girl who had thrown him a flirty glance, his eyes landed on something in the distance that immediately killed his amusement.

Under a tree, sitting on the ground with a few other students scattered nearby but not too close, was none other than Taehyung. And right beside him was that girl– Evie.

Jungkook's jaw tightened as he took in the sight. They were sitting side by side, their posture relaxed, and Taehyung was laughing....actually laughing. He looked like he was having the time of his life, completely at ease, as if nothing else in the world mattered.

Jungkook scoffed at the scene.

Jungkook found the entire scene unbearably cringe–worthy.

Taehyung, who had always been so composed and indifferent to things like romance, was now acting like a complete fool over a girl...a love-sick idiot, the exact opposite of the person Jungkook had known for years.

It was pathetic.

Gone was the quiet, rational guy who always brushed off relationships, claiming they were a waste of time. Now, he was just another boring nerd, wrapped up in some ridiculous romance.

As Jungkook continued staring in disgust, one of his friends walked up beside him. Noticing the direction of Jungkook's gaze, his friend followed his line of sight and let out a scoff of his own.

"So this is where Taehyung has been hiding," his friend muttered, crossing his arms. "Dude, he completely turned his back on us. It's like we don't even exist anymore. Never thought I'd see the day when the guy who used to say he wasn't interested in girls would turn into a pathetic, love-sick fool."

Jungkook let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "Yeah, well, people change, I guess," he muttered.

His friend squinted slightly, then frowned. "Wait... isn't that the same girl from the sports equipment room?"

Jungkook gave a single nod. "Yeah, that's her."

His friend clicked his tongue in recognition. He had been there that day when Evie had walked in on Jungkook in the equipment room. Back then, she had seemed angry and defensive, trying to act off like she is different girl and not like others.

Jungkook scoffed. "That pathetic idiot, Evie Parker. The so-called new student."

His friend chuckled at his tone. "Man, she's a clever little bitch, I'll give her that. She really turned Taehyung against us. And for what? It's not like she even knew him for that long. We've been his friends for years–his real bros. And now? He doesn't even give a damn about us. Just completely threw us aside for some girl he barely knows."

Jungkook let out a slow exhale, shaking his head. "Trust me, I've been wondering the same thing."

His friend glanced back at Evie, his lips twisting in distaste. "That day in the equipment room, she acted like she was so different from other girls. Like she was all innocent. But now? Look at her. She's got Taehyung wrapped around her finger. And he's falling for it like an idiot."

Jungkook clenched his jaw. "She knows exactly what she's doing," he muttered. "She looks simple and harmless, but she's not. She knew Taehyung would be easy to manipulate, and she went straight for him."

His friend nodded, then hesitated for a second before adding, "You don't think she's turning Taehyung against you specifically for purpose, do you?"

Jungkook shot him an unimpressed look. "And why the hell would she do that?"

His friend smirked slightly. "Uh... maybe because you rated her that day? Don't tell me you forgot about insulting the hell out of her."

Jungkook blinked, then let out a short laugh as the memory surfaced. "Oh, that," he said with a smirk. "That wasn't an insult. That was just the truth."

His friend gave him a knowing look. "Yeah, well, maybe she saw it differently. You straight–up rated her appearance and gave her a four out of ten. Then you insulted the hell out of her."

Jungkook snorted, amused by the thought. "If she's holding a grudge over something that small, she's even dumber than I thought."

His friend shrugged. "Think about it. What if she's been taking some kind of petty revenge? Like, she couldn't get back at you directly, so she decided to manipulate Taehyung instead? Turn him against us, make him pick her over us? It's totally unexpected from someone like him. We've known Taehyung since school, and now, within just a few weeks, he's completely flipped on us....all because of her."

Jungkook didn't say anything for a moment, but his smirk faded slightly. As ridiculous as it sounded, there was something unsettling about the way Taehyung had changed so suddenly.

Jungkook shrugged off his friend's words, acting as if he couldn't care less. "Let him be," he said, shaking his head. "He was the one always calling names, insulting Raven for her behavior, acting like he had some high standards. And now? He's choosing a girl like her. Talk about a change in taste."

His friend scoffed. "Yeah, and the way he got all defensive about her? Dude was ready to flip on you. Over her. Can you believe that?"

Jungkook let out a humorless chuckle. " Not at all. I never expected him of all people to act like this. But whatever, let him play house with her. It's his life."

He then shifted his gaze back to Evie, his expression darkening slightly. "Girls like her? They always have an agenda. If it's not money, it's something else. And she doesn't seem any different."

His friend nodded in agreement, but Jungkook just smirked. "Let him taste it. Let him enjoy whatever little fantasy he's living in right now. Because when it all comes crashing down, when he gets tired of it, he'll come crawling back. It's just something new for him, that's all. And new things? They don't last forever."

⋆༺𓆩♱𓆪༻⋆𝔙 𝔦 𝔰 𝔦 𝔬 𝔫  𝔦 𝔫  𝔇 𝔞 𝔯 𝔨⋆༺𓆩♱𓆪༻⋆

The football practice ground was filled with players warming up and getting ready for the session. Everyone was present, including Jungkook. As the captain of his team, he took his responsibilities seriously, no matter how laid-back he seemed in other areas of life.

But right now, he was waiting for one person—Taehyung.

Taehyung was a crucial player for the team, and his absence was frustrating. Jungkook had been standing there for the past fifteen minutes, waiting.

He had tried to be patient, but the thought that Taehyung might actually skip practice made his blood boil. It was one thing to ignore his friends, but if Taehyung was ditching practice as well, that was a whole other level of irresponsibility.

Jungkook clenched his jaw. Taehyung was one of their best players. If he started slacking off because he was too busy with her, it would be completely unacceptable.

This wasn't just a casual game....it was an important match. In just a few days, they had the final inter-college championship. Winning was everything. Their college team had never lost in the past, and Jungkook was determined to keep it that way.

He could feel his anger growing, his hands curling into fists. The idea that Taehyung might be prioritizing that girl over the game was beyond infuriating.

Just as Jungkook was about to lose his temper completely, a figure came running onto the field.

It was Taehyung.

Breathing heavily, Taehyung slowed down as he reached the team. His face was slightly flushed from running, and he quickly bowed his head in apology.

"Sorry, I'm late," he said, his tone sincere. This time, he wasn't making excuses–he was actually late.

Jungkook didn't say anything. He simply stared at Taehyung, his expression unreadable.

But inside, he was furious. He hated this kind of careless attitude, especially when it came to sports.

As they got into their positions and prepared to start, Jungkook turned to Taehyung, his voice firm but calm.

"You were late today," he stated, his tone carrying a hint of disappointment.

Taehyung let out a small sigh and nodded. "Yeah, I know. I didn't mean to be, but things happened. It won't happen again, I promise."

Jungkook studied him for a moment before speaking again. "Taehyung, I get it. You've found someone new, and you don't like spending time with us anymore. You don't even bother looking our way. That's fine. But I hope you won't start ditching football too."

Taehyung frowned at Jungkook's words. "Jungkook, I never said I don't like spending time with you guys. You're my friends it's just—"

Jungkook let out a sharp breath, shaking his head as he cut him off. "Okay, let's not get into this again. I'm not in the mood for another argument. But there's one thing I need to make clear." His voice was serious now, carrying the weight of his expectations.

"This isn't just a football match. You know how important it is. The inter-college championship is coming up, and I want us to give our best and win. You're one of the key players on this team, and I know you might not want to hang out with us anymore, but please, don't let that affect sports."

Taehyung didn't respond immediately, but his expression shifted, showing that he understood Jungkook's frustration. He gave a small nod, acknowledging his words.

With that, Jungkook dropped the conversation, refocusing his mind on the game. The team adjusted their positions, their focus shifting entirely to the field as practice officially began.

A few days passed, and training sessions continued as usual. The team practiced hard, pushing themselves for the upcoming match. Taehyung showed up to practice every day, never missing a session, but something had changed.

Before, he might not have been as wild or carefree as the rest of them, but he was still part of their group. He never created distance between himself and his friends, never acted like he didn't belong.

But now? Now, he barely spoke to anyone. He would come, train in silence, and leave as soon as practice was over, not even bothering to acknowledge them.

It wasn't outright hostility....it was worse. It was indifference. As if they didn't matter anymore.

Jungkook noticed it, and so did the others. But no one said anything.

⋆༺𓆩♱𓆪༻⋆𝔙 𝔦 𝔰 𝔦 𝔬 𝔫  𝔦 𝔫  𝔇 𝔞 𝔯 𝔨⋆༺𓆩♱𓆪༻⋆

The afternoon sun filled the college garden in a soft, warm glow. The air was fresh, carrying the faint scent of earth and blooming flowers, creating a peaceful contrast to the usual bustle of campus life.

A few students strolled through the pathways in the distance, but here, in this secluded corner, it felt like they were in their own little world– untouched, undisturbed.

Evie sat cross-legged on the grass, her fingers flipping through the pages of the book resting on her lap. The words in front of her eyes, but she wasn't really reading–at least, not with full concentration. It wasn't easy when Taehyung was sitting beside her, his presence impossible to ignore.

He had been quiet for the past few minutes, simply watching her with an unreadable expression. She could feel his gaze, heavy yet gentle, like he was studying every little detail about her.

"You know," he finally spoke, his voice smooth yet laced with something mischievous, "I don't like being ignored, Evie."

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.     "I'm not ignoring you. I'm reading."

A slow smirk formed on his lips, and before she could react, he reached forward and snatched the book straight out of her hands.

"Hey!" she protested, reaching for it, but he leaned back, holding it just out of her grasp.

"You call this reading?" He flipped through the pages carelessly, his dark eyes scanning over the words before he looked back at her. "You've been on the same page for the last ten minutes."

Evie huffed, crossing her arms. "That doesn't mean I wasn't trying."

"Trying?" Taehyung repeated, feigning disbelief. He shut the book and placed it behind him, completely out of her reach. "If you were really interested, you wouldn't have let me take it so easily."

She narrowed her eyes at him, her lips pressing together. "You're impossible."

"And you're adorable when you're frustrated," he shot back effortlessly, his grin widening as he watched her struggle between amusement and irritation.

Evie shook her head. "You do realize you have a match later, right? Shouldn't you be preparing for that instead of bothering me?"

Taehyung shrugged, leaning back on his elbows, his posture relaxed. "I've played plenty of matches before. One more won't change anything."

She rolled her eyes. "That's not the attitude of someone who's serious about winning."

"I am serious about winning," he said, tilting his head slightly as he looked at her. "But right now, I'm more interested in winning your attention."

Evie's breath caught slightly at the way he said it–not in a teasing manner. He was stating it as a fact, as something undeniable.

"You already have my attention," she murmured, her voice softer now.

Taehyung smiled, but there was something in his gaze that made her stomach twist in ways she couldn't explain. It wasn't just a playful moment anymore. It was something deeper, something real.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The rustling of leaves and the distant laughter of students filled the silence between them, but it wasn't awkward. It was silence that felt comfortable, like the space between them was filled with unspoken words.

Then, suddenly, Taehyung reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering for just a second longer than necessary.

"Tell me," he said, voice quieter now, almost a whisper, "if I win this match later, do I get a reward?"

Evie felt the heat rise to her cheeks. "A reward?"

He nodded, his eyes locked onto hers. "Something to look forward to."

She hesitated, feeling the intensity of his gaze. "Like what?"

Taehyung leaned in slightly, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Surprise me."

Evie swallowed, her heart hammering against her ribs. He wasn't asking for anything specific, but the way he was looking at her made her feel like whatever she gave him–it would mean something.

She turned away, staring at the sky for a moment before she sighed, feigning reluctance. "Fine. Win the match first, then we'll talk."

Taehyung chuckled, satisfied. "Now that is motivation."

And with that, he stretched his arms and leaned back onto the grass, completely unbothered by the fact that he had stolen her book and her peace of mind in a matter of minutes.

As the time passes by Evie sat on the grass, trying her best to ignore Taehyung's relentless teasing.

He had been at it for a while now - throwing playful remarks, making exaggerated comments about how she couldn't possibly be ignoring him, and even going as far as dramatically sighing every few minutes as if her silence was physically paining him.

She had warned him. More than once. But, as always, Taehyung thrived on testing her patience.

"Evie," he drawled lazily, propping himself up on one elbow as he watched her with an amused glint in his eyes. "Are you sure you're not into me? Because, honestly, the way you avoid looking at me is kind of suspicious."

Evie let out a frustrated groan, glaring at him. "Taehyung, I swear, if you don't stop—"

He cut her off with a grin. "You'll do what? Run away? You can't, because I'll catch you."

She huffed, rolling her eyes as she pushed herself up to stand. "That's it. I'm done with you."

But just as she was about to get up, Taehyung reached out without thinking and grabbed her wrist, playfully tugging her back down. It was meant to be lighthearted, a simple move to keep her from escaping so he could continue his teasing.

However, in the process, she lost her balance. Her foot twisted at an awkward angle as she landed with a sharp gasp of pain, her hands instinctively gripping onto Taehyung's arm for support.

The teasing stopped immediately.

Evie's face scrunched up in pain, her hand moving to her ankle as she winced. "Ow..."

Taehyung's eyes widened in alarm, and he sat up straighter, his teasing demeanor vanishing in an instant. "Shit, Evie....are you okay?"

She didn't respond right away, too busy biting her lip to keep from making a bigger deal out of it. But the way she clutched her ankle told him enough.

"Let me see," he said quickly, his voice laced with genuine concern. Without hesitation, he gently reached for her leg, carefully lifting the hem of her jeans just enough to examine her ankle. His fingers lightly brushed over the swollen skin, and Evie flinched.

Taehyung cursed under his breath. "Damn it, I didn't mean to...." He exhaled sharply, frustration evident in his voice. "I was just messing around. I didn't think....Evie, I'm really sorry."

She shook her head, still wincing slightly. "It's fine. It's not your fault... I just landed weirdly."

But Taehyung wasn't convinced. He was already shifting, moving closer so he could help her up. "Come on. Let's get you to the classroom. You can't sit here like this."

Evie hesitated. "I can walk— "

"No, you can't," he cut her off firmly. "Don't even try."

Before she could argue further, he wrapped an arm around her waist and carefully pulled her up, making sure not to put pressure on her injured foot.

Evie instinctively grabbed onto his shoulder for support, leaning into him as she adjusted to the weight shift. His hold on her was steady, his grip firm but gentle as he guided her step by step.

As they slowly made their way out of the garden, Evie glanced up at him. "Taehyung... your match."

He barely spared a thought before answering, "I'll go later."

"But—"

He shot her a look, cutting off any argument she was about to make. "Right now, I don't care about the match. My priority is getting you somewhere comfortable."

Evie felt a strange warmth spread through her chest at his words. He had always been playful, always full of teasing remarks, but moments like this reminded her that beneath all of that, he was someone who truly cared.

With Taehyung supporting her, they slowly made their way across campus, his arm still securely around her waist, as if he wouldn't let her fall again - not now, not ever.

★ ★ ★

—𝖽𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗏𝗈𝗍𝖾         𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝗋𝗈𝗉 𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍···୨ৎ